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Colombia to release Venezuelans Colombia frees Venezuelan guards
(about 15 hours later)
Colombia has said it will shortly release four members of the Venezuelan national guard who were detained on Colombian territory. Colombia has released four members of the Venezuelan national guard who were detained on Colombian territory.
Colombia says they were stopped on Friday by its navy in a boat on a river in the border province of Vichada.Colombia says they were stopped on Friday by its navy in a boat on a river in the border province of Vichada.
But President Alvaro Uribe said on Saturday they would be returned to the Venezuelan authorities. President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela ruled out dialogue with the Columbian government saying he would not accept outside mediation in the dispute.
There has been no comment from the Venezuelan government, which last week sent troops to the border region. The only way to resolve the conflict with Columbia is for the US to withdraw from military bases there, he added.
President Hugo Chavez, in deploying the forces, said a new US-Colombia military co-operation agreement set the stage for an invasion of his country. Columbia's President Alvaro Uribe said the troops were being sent home as a message of the "unbreakable affection" between the two countries.
Both Bogota and Washington dismiss the claims.
Mr Uribe said the troops would be released and sent home as a message of the "unbreakable affection" between the two countries.
"They should carry back the message that here there is brotherly affection for Venezuela and that affection is unbreakable," he said."They should carry back the message that here there is brotherly affection for Venezuela and that affection is unbreakable," he said.
The Venezuelan guardsmen were arrested in Colombia's sparsely populated border department of Vichada, officials said.
Earlier this month, President Chavez urged his armed forces to be prepared for possible war.Earlier this month, President Chavez urged his armed forces to be prepared for possible war.
He said the increased US access to Colombian bases would allow Washington to spy on Venezuela and attack strategic targets.He said the increased US access to Colombian bases would allow Washington to spy on Venezuela and attack strategic targets.
Venezuela has accused the United States of planning attacks on its territory through a new military agreement with Colombia.
Bogota says the pact is aimed at fighting drug-traffickers and Marxist rebels within Colombia's own borders.Bogota says the pact is aimed at fighting drug-traffickers and Marxist rebels within Colombia's own borders.